Against Me!

Against Me! gets confrontational.

Related Content

• Review: Against Me! at the Warped Tour, 8/5/11
  August 8, 2011
• When pop goes dubstep: Six pop songs propelled by the undeniable whomp of the wobbly bass
  December 6, 2011
• Tonight: Matt & Kim at the Ogden
  June 21, 2011
• Labor Day: Let's recap the ten best concerts of the summer
  September 3, 2011
• Review: Matt & Kim at the Ogden, 06/21/11
  June 22, 2011

More About

• Tom Gabel
• Against Me!
• Jared Smith
• Punk Rock
• War and Conflict

In "Piss and Vinegar," a new song by Against Me! (currently touring with David Dondero and Matt & Kim), lead singer Tom Gabel advises music commentators to be "a little less professional, a little more up front and confrontational." On August 14, he may have taken a similar approach during a visit to a Florida coffee shop. Gabel reportedly became incensed upon seeing an Against Me! flier that had been defaced and took his anger out on 22-year-old customer Jared Smith, precipitating an assault charge. There's no telling at this point exactly how the incident went down — Gabel denies hitting Smith — but there's no lack of aggression on New Wave, the group's major-label debut. Sleekly produced by Butch Vig, who was behind the boards on Nirvana's Nevermind, the disc is thoroughly old-school punk with anthemic lyrics. For instance, "White People for Peace" features Gabel saluting "protest songs to stop the soldier's gun." Perhaps he should give peace a chance in his personal life, too.